Aircraft bomb



Dec. 19, 1939. w. URB'IAN- AIRCRAFT BOMB Filed May 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l azey Umian ATTORNEYS W. URBAN AIRCRAFT BOMB Dec. 19, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1938 atenlted Dec. 19, 1939 2,184,028 cam BOMB Wesley Urban, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Application May 16, 1938, Serial No. 208,272

' 3 Claims. (01. 102-2) The invention relates to a bomb and more particularly to aircraft twin bombs.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a bomb of this character, wherein a portion thereof is exploded through percussion while another portion functions as shrapnel, being exploded in flight and in this manner the bomb is most effective for demolition or destructive purposes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bomb of this character, wherein the construction thereof is novel in its entirety and involves separably coupled shells so that through the striking of an object by one of the same it explodes while the other is exploded by a time fuse and the explosion of the latter occurs in flight thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bomb of this character, wherein there is involved dual-explosions so that the said bomb is possessed of twin characteristics.

A still further object of the invention is theprovision of a bomb of this character, wherein its construction assures the easy handling thereof, being especially adaptable for use in air crafts and is adapted to be thrown or tossed from the latter for the striking of the ground or an object and when this occurs one explosion takes place while the other explosion subsequently occurs thereto and in the air or above the ground.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bomb of this character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and effective in operation, comparatively light 35 in weight for easy handling thereof for the sending of the same from an aircraft while in flight and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in'the features of construction,

40 combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred and modified forms of embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the bomb constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 50 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view showing in detail the striking plunger with its firing pin and adjuncts 55 associated with the bomb.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of bomb.

Figure 5 is an end view with the shrapnel shell removed.

3 Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 sh ng the modified form of striking plunger and firing pin.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings-in detail, particularly Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, A designates generally a bomb of the aircraft twin explosive type constructed in accordance with the invention. This bomb A comprises the shells iii and H, respectively, these having the chambers i2 and i3, respectively, and within the chamber i2 is an explosive charge it! while within the chamber I3 is a shrapnel explosive charge I5, respectively.

The shell i3 is preferably of bullet shape having the rounded outwardly tapered blunt pointed nose it while the opposite rearmost end ii of this shell I t has a reduced circular centrally protruded portion it having external threads I9 for engagement with internal threads 25 in a socket 2! within a coupler body 22. The shell 55 is separable from the body 22 and the latter is formed with an'externally threaded closure lug I 23 for a central filling opening within the portion 88, the lug 23 being separably threaded in this opening. The opening when cleared enables the introduction of the explosive charge id into the shell i3.

The coupler body 22 has a countersink forming a pocket or seat 2% for the shell I I which is of substantially pear shape and has fitted separably thereto a cap 25, being separably threaded at 26 and 21, respectively, to the said shell II. The threads 26 are formed within a filling opening created within the shell Ii and the cap is provided with a closure lug 28 for said opening, being received therein. Inv this opening is introduced the explosive charge I 5 into the shell II.

Suitably anchored in the cap are oppositely disposed radially directed arrow-like or dart wings 29, these being anchored at 30 to the said cap and the purpose thereof is to guide the bomb when thrown from an aircraft in its use. Loosely about the shell I I and snugly embracing the same is a coupling band 3| having an internally threaded annular reduced rim 32 separably threaded to the coupler body 22 and in this manner the shell H is removably seated izn the pocket or seat 24 in the said coupler body Centered within the nose l6 of the shell Ill is a firing pin barrel 33 in which is slidably fitted the enlarged head 34 of a striking plunger 35 being normally projected under the influence of a. tensioning spring 36 confined within a space 31 for the head 34 of the pin 35 and withinthe barrel 3,3. This head 34 of the pin 35 carries a firing pin 38 in the path of a percussion cap 39 held within the barrel 33 which opens into the chamber l4 through the bore or passage 60 created within said barrel 33 and accommodating the said firing pin 38 and the percussion cap 39, respectively. The cap when fired or exploded explodes the charge l4 within the shell ill for the bursting thereof, the firing pin 38 being actuated by the plunger 35 when striking the ground or an object. The explosive charge I4 is the bursting charge within the shell Ill.

The barrel 33 while threaded at 4| within a clearance in the nose end |6 of the shell I!) is held by an escutcheon 42, being apertured for the plunger 35 and fastened at 43 exteriorly on the shell I!) for overlying the outer end of the barrel 33.

Centrally of the seat or pocket 24 for the shell H and formed within the coupler body 22 is a well or depression 44 for an explosive sending 'charge 45, the shell being fitted with a time fuse 46 communicative with the well or depression 44 and extended within the charge l5 for ignition through the charge 45 and effective for explosion of the explosive charge I5 within the shell The closure lug 23 of the coupler body 22 has fitted therein an ignition fuse 41 extending into the charge l4 and communicative with the charge 45 within the well or depression 44 Within said coupler body 22 so that when the charge I4 is exploded the fuse 41 is ignited or fired and through the latter the sending explosive charge 45 is exploded drivin the shell I out of the seat or pocket 24 to give flight to this shell and while the latter is in flight the fuse 46 explodes its charge |5 for the bursting of the shell I I which is of shrapnel characteristic.

The band 3| at the rim 32 thereof has internal threads on the same somewhat shallow so that this band 3| will be susceptible of separation from the coupler body 22 under the exploding of the charge 45 Within the well or depression 44 whereby the shell II will be carried in flight concurrently with the bursting of the shell In.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings there is shown a modification of the invention wherein the coupler body 48 at the pocket or seat 49 for the shrapnel shell 50 has provided therein the center well or depression 5| and the annular groove or channel 52, respectively, the latter being concentric to the well or depression 5| and communication therebetween being had through the radically disposed ways 53 while accommodated within the said well or depression, the channel or groove 52 and the ways 53 is a sending explosive charge 54. At the edge 55 of the seat or pocket 49 are diametrically opposed notches 56, these seating pins or lugs 51 in and projected from the shell 50 so that the latter will not turn within the pocket or seat 49 yet is removable therefrom, being held seated within the seat or pocket 49 by the coupling belt 58.

The charging chamber 59 of the shell 50 has its wall provided with weakening grooves 60, these leading from the point of the time fuse 6| fitted within the shell 50 and are for the purpose of the rapid bursting of the shell 50 when explosion occurs within the same by the exploding of its explosive charge 62.

The shell 63 has the striking plunger 64 equipped with double firing pins 65 and 66, respectively. The pin 65 fires a percussion cap 61 for exploding the explosive charge 68 within the shell 63 while the pin 63 fires a percussion cap 69 within the coupler body 48 for the explosion of the sending charge 54 as contained within this coupler body 48 whereby flight of the shell 5|] will be had and the subsequent exploding thereof in flight by the fuse 6| which extends into,the charge 54 as well as into the charge 62 within said shell 50.

Carried through the chamber or space for the charge 68 within the shell 63 is a tube through which plays or works the firing pin 66.

By reason of the construction of the bomb' there is involved two shells, one being bursted through the charge within by striking activity and the other bursting by its charge within through a time fuse and while in fiight.

What is claimed is:

l. A bomb of the kind described comprising a shell having a reduced perforated rear end, a coupling body detachably threaded with the reduced rear end and having a socket opening therethrough, a closure plug on said coupling body and accommodated in the perforation in said shell, a second shell fitting said socket, a coupling band engaged with the second shell and the said coupling. body for holding said second shell in the socket in the coupling body, explosive charges within both shells, shrapnel within the second shell and about said explosive charge therein, a timing fuse for the explosive charge in the second-mentioned shell and active on the exploding of the charge in the first-mentioned shell, and percussion means exposed at the forward end of the first-mentioned shell for exploding the charge therein.

2. A bomb of the kind described comprising a shell having a reduced perforated rear end, a coupling body detachably threaded with the reduced rear end and having a socket opening therethrough, a closure plug on said coupling body and accommodated in the perforation in said shell, a second shell fitting said socket, a coupling band engaged with the second shell and the said coupling body for holding said second shell in the socket in the coupling body, explosive charges within both shells, shrapnel within the second shell and about said explosive charge therein, a timing fuse for the explosive charge in the second-mentioned shell and active on the exploding'of the charge in the firstmentioned shell, percussion means exposed at the forward end of the first-mentioned shell for exploding the charge therein, and dart wings d anchored with the second-mentioned shell.

3. A bomb of the kind described comprising a shell having a reduced perforated rear end, a coupling body detachably threaded with the reduced rear end and having a socket opening therethrough, a closure plug on said coupling body and accommodated in the perforation in said shell, a second shell fitting said socket, a coupling band engaged with the second shell and the said coupling body for holding said second shell in the socket in the coupling body, explosive charges within both shells, shrapnel within the second shell and about said explosive charge therein, a timing fuse for the explosive charge in the second-mentioned shell and active on the exploding of the charge in the first-mentioned shell, a percussion means exposed at the forward end of the first-mentioned shell for exploding the charge therein, and dart wings anchored with the second-mentioned shell, the said percussion means having a barrel, a percussion cap therein and a striker plunger fitting the said barrel and having a firing pin in the path of the percussion cap.

WESLEY URBAN. 

